Jet cleaner



Dec. 8, 1959 l. P. PEDRlcK 2,916,268

JET CLEANER Original Filed May 20, 1954 ATTORNEYS Unita M Patented Dec. 8, 1959 L JET yCLANER e, B., Pdiik, Wyneivod. r., assgnbi tlSelirS Injector Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania cmitinuafin or application serial No. 431,081", May zo', ifisThis application December 14, *1956, Serial' No. 9

1 Claim.' (Cl. zal-1s) This invention relates to jet cleaners of the general organization, and in'th'e"l sp'e'cic embodiment', of the apparatus disclosedA in my co-pending application, Serial Number 431,081, led -May 20, 1954, now abandoned, of which this application is a continuation.

lIn its broader and more general aspects the invention constitutes an especial improvement over kthat of my earlier lissued patent, U.S. 2,176,682 (October 17, 1939). More particularlyghe invention herevprovides novel structure making possible the production of a high pressure outlet stream of hot' water (which may, for example, carry detergent, solvent or the like) developed from a relatively low inlet steam pressuresource. The nece's-l sary, co-incident introduction' of water normally is at rela-w tivelylow pressure also. 4 I

-Myearlier issued patent, US'. 2,176,682, provides an elective apparatus for producing an outlet jet of hot water at high pressure--butl only with inlet steam avail# able at high pressures. In order to develop such high out' let pressure jet with very low steam inlet pressure, I have discovered that it is necessary to make certain fundamental changes in my earlierrstructure. These consist in:

(a) `Critical proportioning of specic annular or crosssectional areas-as hereinafter more particularly explained. K

(b) Streamlining of the annular steam entry passage at a constant-rate taper from inlet end to the discharge end located within a combining tube. V

p (c) Provision of a steam screen between the original inlet source of steam and the annular steam en'try passage. (d) A Vacuum-holding valve preceding the water overilow valve of my patented structure and located adjacent the combining tube where low pressure steam and water meet tocreate the high vacnurn resulting in high outlet jet stream pressure.

f The combining of steam with water to provide a stream of hot water is known to the art. The apparatus in accordance with this invention, however, appears to have exceptional merit due to the fact that exceptionally high pressures are developed using relatively low pressure inputs of water and steam. Thus, for example, with an input of steam at 5 p.s.i. an output jet of water of 100 p.s.i. can be produced. o I j l The broad object of this invention isjto provide a jet cleaner which will produce a relatively high pressure hot water jet utilizing relatively low pressure inputs of steam and water and which can incorporate in the delivered j'et of water a detergent, solvent, or the like.

This and other objects of this invention will become apparent on reading the description in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of a jet cleaner in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a view, partly in section, of a nozzle adapted for connection with the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrative of relative areas of parts of the apparatus shown in Figure l.

As shown in Figure 1, a jet cleaner 2 in accordance with ths'vinventiori has a casing 4 which may be `made of any suitable material, such as iron or other metal or alloy and may, for example, be a casting.

Steam is introduced through an inlet 6 and passes tlirou'gh a screen 8 into chamber 10. A nozzle 12, threadably' securedin casing 4, tapers at a constant rate from a' point adjacent the inlet of nozzle 12 to the discharge end 16. Discharge end 16' of nozzle 12 is located within acov'mbinin'g tube 18.'

A nozzle 20 for the delivery of a detergent or solvent is centered within nozzle 12 and has its discharge end projecting beyond nozzle 12 and into combining tube 18. Nozzle 20 is supplied by a centrally bored member 22 which is threadably secured to' casing 4 and centrally bored member 24', to which is attached a supply pipe 26 which' provides a lead from a source of detergent or solvent (not shown). The flow from pipe 26 to nozzle 20 is' controlled by needle valve l28 which is manipulated by a handle 30 secured to valve stem 32. Valve stem 32 is surrounded by packing 34 which is retained by gland 36. A valve clean-out plug 38 is threadably secured in member `24 and a ball check valve 40 acts to prevent reverse ow from the jet cleaner 2 through pipe 26.

Cold' water from any suitable source is introduced through inletl opening 44 and passes into a chamber 46 through a screenv 48. A cleanout plug 50 is provided for ushing out screen 48. Water flows from' chamber '46, past the opening 52 between nozzle 12 and combining tube 1-8 to form a thin annular sheet of water adjacent the inner surface of combining tube 18.

Referring again to `combining tube 18, it is formed by members 54, 56, 58 and 60, which are threadably secured together in series, the member 60 in addition being threadably secured to casing 4. It .will be lnoted that combining tube 18 is in the form of a Venturi.

The adjoining ends of members 54 and 56 are spaced apart to form a slot y62 in communication with openings 64, which in turn lead to overflow chamber 66. Similarly a slot 68 is formed between members 56 and 58, slot 68 being in communication with openings 70, which in turn are in communication with overow chamber 72. Similarly a slot 74 is formed between members 58 and 60, slot 74 communicating with openings 76 which communicate with overow chamber 72. -Flow from overflow chamber 66 through opening 78 into overflow chamber 72 is controlled by a valve 80. Valve 80 has a crossshaped web 82 which bears on the sides of opening 78 and a stern 84 in opening 86 of a screw cap 88.

Discharge from overflow chamber 72 into chamber 90, which is shown connected to a discharge pipe 92, is achieved through Valve 94 which can seat in opening 95. Valve 94 has a cross-shaped web 96 which bears against the sides of opening 95 and a stem 98 which rides in opening of screw cap 102.

A coupling 104 is utilized to provide a connection with hose 106, which is provided at its discharge end with a nozzle 108 having a restricted opening 110.

Certain proportions of the jet cleaner in accordance with this invention are critical. If the cross-sectional area of the interior of the combining tube 18 at 'its smallest point indicated at A is X, the cross-sectional area at B between the inner surface of the discharge end of nozzle 12 and the outer surface of nozzle 20 will be from l() to 12 times X, and preferably 11.5 times X; and the cross-sectional area at C between the exterior surface of the discharge end of nozzle 12 and the interior surface of combining tube 18 will be from 3.25 to 3.75 times X, and preferably 3.5 times X. The circumference of the exterior of the discharge end of nozzle 12 at C will be from 3.75 to 4.25 times, and preferably 4 times, the circumference of the interior of the combining tube 18 at A.

In operating the jet cleaner 2, water from a conventional cold water line is supplied to the jet cleaner through inlet 44 at from 5 to 25 p.s.i., ows through strainer 48 and into combining tube 1S through opening 52. After the water is turned on, steam is turned on and enters inlet 6 at from 5 to 25 psi., passes through screen 8, chamber 10 and nozzle 12 into combining tube 18. The steam will be at a pressure of from to 25 psi., the steam and water pressure being preferably the Same.

As the steam issues from nozzle 12, it is enveloped by the thin cone of cold water, which results in the rapid condensation of the steam. This produces a high vacuum with a resultant increase in the velocity of the entering low pressure steam and water and the ultimate velocity of the delivered jet.

During the period that the water and steam are forming a jet in the combining tube, overflow will occur through slots 62 and opening 64 into the chamber 66 and through slots 68 and 74 and related openings 70 and 76 into chamber 72. When a vacuum is built up within combining tube 13, the valves 80 and 94 will be closed by the vacuum.

After a proper jet of water has been developed, needle valve 23 is opened and a detergent will be introduced from nozzle 20 into the combining tube 18 since the discharge end of nozzle 20 is located within the vacuum area formed by the discharge of steam through nozzle 12 around nozzle 20 and by the condensation of steam issuing from nozzle 12. The detergent is intimately mixed in a finely divided state with water in the combinin g tube.

The jet of water which is discharged from the combining tube 18 has a high velocity and has been highly heated by the steam which has largely condensed. The highly heated water together with the detergent passes through hose 106 and issues through nozzle `108.

The operative effectiveness of the apparatus of this invention, as just generally outlined, is made possible by the cooperative combination of the four novel structural elements referred to earlier herein.

Thus, it is necessary that the defined area ratios be adhered to. It is necessary also that the steam injection or entry passage provide streamlined flow through a constant-rate taper annulus.

In combination these provide a substantial low-pressure volume of steam to emit in direct, smooth-110W immediate contact with a thin and enveloping curtain of water effective to the immediate creation of a high vacuum at the throat of the combining tube. For this cornbination to work its useful part in the apparatus, as a whole, with a low pressure steam source, it is also required that such steam be introduced through the screen S which provides the necessary muzzling or gathering effect necessary to maintain a steady and full-volume steam iiow into the annulus for steam injection into the combining tube 18.

Finally, in order to maintain the high, created vacuum, to enable ready starting without trial-and-error manipulation of steam and Water valves and lto make possible automatic restarting in the event of a vacuum break, valve 89 must be included and be operative.

The worthwhile utility and unexpectedly advantageous results obtainable, at low inlet steam pressures, with the structure of the present invention in contrast A B C 2,176,682 structure 16.98 65. 18 81. 09 New structure 19. 635 228. 77 6G. 00

Using the indicated varying low inlet steam pressures, outlet hot water discharge pressures obtained were:

Discharge pressures Inlet steam 2,176,682 structure New structure I noperative 100 1 5 120 25- 160 175 What is claimed is:

A jet cleaner effective to provide a high outlet pressure stream from a relatively low pressure source of inlet steam which comprises a casing7 a combining tube in Venturi form in said casing, a steam nozzle in said casing having a discharge end within the inlet end of the combining tube, means in said casing for the co-incident introduction of water at the steam nozzle discharge end, means connected to said casing for maintaining a fullvolume flow of low pressure steam into said nozzle, a solvent nozzle in said casing passing through said steam nozzle and having a discharge end extending into said combining tube beyond the discharge end of said steam nozzle, automatic valve controlled water overflow means and additional automatic valve controlled vacuum maintenance means connected to said casing; the crosssectional area between the outer surface of the discharge end of the steam nozzle and the interior surface of the combining tube being from 3.25 to 3.75 times the minimum cross-sectional area of the interior of the combining tube, the cross-sectional area between the inner surface of the discharge end of the steam nozzle and the outer surface of the solvent nozzle being from 10 to 12 -times the minimum cross-sectional area of the interior of the combining tube.

'I'he Steam Injector, V. A. B. Hughes, 1912, The Technical Publishing Company Limited, London, pages 14, l5 and 57. 

